About 7,500 people avail periodically of centre-based respite, with regional disparities in access to the service and overall substantial unmet need. Budget 2026 provides €25m additional funding for respite expansion, supporting close to 10,000 additional overnight and 25,000 additional day respite sessions.
In their National Service Plan (NSP) for 2026, the HSE have committed to investing the €25m in respite services, which aims to ensure equitable access across regions, with a mix of centre-based, in home, overnight and alternative respite options. The HSE anticipates that in the region of 500 more children and adults with a disability will receive respite sessions both centre based and alternative within their community in 2026.
This funding will support the development of a range of service openings and expansions across the country, with a particular focus on strengthening provision in areas that currently have a lower level of supports. The HSE have recently undertaken an audit of respite services, in order to get a comprehensive picture of current service provision nationally and provide insights into a range of areas such as unmet need, occupancy levels, data collection and types of respite being offered in different areas.
This funding will be used to provide additional overnight and alternative respite for children, young adults and adults in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary with a number of different service providers.
In 2023 a new respite house delivered by Carrowgar Respite Service became operational in Co Clare.
Last year, the HSE and Enable Ireland worked together to increase the capacity of the Hazeldine respite facility in Barefield. This addition will allow for an extra 300 bed nights to be provided by the end of 2026.
HSE continues to work with partner agencies to increase respite and residential capacity and deliver additional services.
In addition, HSE Mid West have been allocated funding for a Summer Respite Initiative for 35 projects for children, young adults and adults across the Mid West. HSE Mid West is engaged with the various service providers to progress these projects which will predominantly be day respite activity. The number of persons who attend these services, number of hours of respite delivered, costings and service user feedback will all be collated to evaluate the impact of this service.
HSE Estates is also currently in the process of securing two properties for overnight respite in the region and a number of proposals have been submitted under the HSE Capital Plan for disabilities for appropriate consideration and assessment.
